Laced shoe



(No Model.)

T. J. LYNCH.

LAGED SHOE.

N0."33Z,158. Patented D60. 8, 1885.

N PETERS. Pholo-Llllwgrapher. Wishinglun, D. C.

STATES THOMAS JOSEPH LYNCH, OF MILFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

LACED SHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 332,158, dated December 8, 1885.

Application filed August 3, 1885. Serial No. 173,393. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I. THOMAS J OSEPH LYNcH, of Milford, in the county of WVorcester, of the Common weal th of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Laced Shoes; and I do hereby declare the same to be described in the following specification and represented in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a top view; Fig. 2, an under side view; Fig. 3, a side elevation; Fig. 4, alongitudinal section, and Fig. 5 a transverse section, of a shoeupper provided with my invention, the nature of which is defined in the claims hereinafter presented.

In ordinary shoe-uppers provided with lacing holes or eyelets arranged in sets aside of the instep-opening such holes or eyelets go entirely through the upper, so that the lacing in extending across the said instep-opening also extends over parts of the outer surface of the upper; but with my improvement all of the lacingholes, except the two at the upper end of the series, are in a lining arranged on the inner side of the outer leather or covering of the upper, each range of the said holes being near its next adjacent edge of the lacingopening. \Vhen, with mysaid improvement, the lacing is drawn tightly, the edges of the lacing opening are brought closely together, the crossings of thelacings being hidden from view. Directly under them (the said crossings) is the tongue, by which they are insulated from the foot or stocking of the wearer of the shoe.

In the drawings the shoe-upper is shown at A, its outer leather being represented at a, and the leather lining of it at b, the two being connected by ranges of sewing, as shown at c, d, and e. The ranges c and d, where next and in parallelism with each of the edges of the lacing-opening Z, are to be sufficiently apart to allow of a range of lacing-holes, 6, being made between them in the lining b. The lacing f is first to be run up to its middle through the lowest holes, 6'. Thence the two half portions of the lacings are to be crossed on each other and laced through the lining, as has been customary to lace them through the upper and across its outer surface. After having been so laced through the lining the lacing portions are to be run through holes or eyelets g at the upper termini of the two ranges of lacing-holes, such holes or eyelets going entirely through the upper. The tongue 5 is shown at 0, it being fastened at its lower end to the upper, and when turned upward extends underneath the crossings of the lacing, and thus insulates them from the foot or stocking of a person having the shoe thereon. 6

With my improvement the lacing is not subjected to wear or defacement by the trowsers, as it is when crossing on the outer surface of the upper, as its crossings are covered and the edges of the lacing-opening can be E brought closely together, so as to present the appearance of a scam.

I do not claim a shoe or boot upper having in parallelism with its lacing-slit ranges of lacing-holes and a flap to extend over the said 7 holes and buttons down upon the upper, such being as represented in the United States Patents Nos. 288,846, 260,144, 309,308, and Reissue No. 4,933, as I have no such flap to my shoe, and the lacing-holes are mostly in 7 the lining only of the said upper without going through the outer leather or partto which such lacing is applied and fixed.

I claim 1. A shoe-upper having the lacing-holes of 8 its instep-opening or lacing-slit arranged in the lining without extending through the outer leather of such upper, such lining being fixed or stitched to the outer leather along the edges of the instep-opening or lacing-slit, 8 or between each of such edges and the range of lacing-holes next adjacent thereto.

2. A shoe upper having the uppermost lacing-holes of its instep-opening 0r lacingslit arranged in the lining and outer leather 9 of such upper, and the remainder of the lacingholes arranged in the lining without extending through the outer leather of such upper, such lining being fixed or stitched to the outer leather along the edges of the instepopeningjg or lacing-slit or between each of such edges and the range of lacing-holes next adjacent thereto, all being substantially as set forth.

THOMAS JOSEPH LYNCH.

Vitnesses:

F. A. MORRILL, N. B. JoI-rNsoN. 

